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Flippin' for foul balls and field antics: Sold-out crowd enjoys weekend of Banana Ball at Isotopes Park

Indy Stanley of the Texas Tailgaters performs a back flip during the "Banana Ball" of the Party Animals headlining tour at the Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque, N.M., on Saturday, May 24, 2025. The Party Animals clinched the victory during a thrilling showdown.

Chancey Bush/Journal

Mahlet Habteyes Mahlet Habteyes Mahlet Habteyes Journal Staff Writer

Published May 25, 2025 - 9:55 p.m. Modified May 26, 2025 - 9:41 a.m.

Best Moments

Best moments

Here are the top moments that had the crowd going bananas on Saturday:

1. Pint-sized power at the plate

The evening’s first pitch got a twist when a young fan was selected to take the ceremonial first swing. The kid stepped up to the plate with the confidence of a seasoned slugger, drawing huge cheers from both teams’ dugouts and setting the tone for a night full of fan participation.

2. Baby’s first ‘bottle service’

In perhaps the most adorable moment of the night, players brought an infant and his parent to the field and decided to provide some premium bottle service — baby style. The baby was given a bottle of milk while an entire section erupted in cheers. The littlest fan in attendance seemed unimpressed by all the fanfare, but parents and fans were all laughing.

3. ‘Pie my dad’ is the clear choice

One of the evening’s biggest laughs came when a young fan was brought onto the field with his father and given a choice: free T-shirt or pie his dad in the face. Without hesitation, the kid chose chaos over cotton. When asked to confirm, he doubled down: “Pie my dad!” The crowd roared its approval, and the dad took his fate like a champ.

4. Finish that tune

The Texas Tailgaters and Party Animals fans got competitive during an impromptu “finish the song” contest that had sections of the stadium trying to out-sing each other. Tailgaters fans occupied one section while Party Animals supporters claimed another, with each group tasked with completing popular song lyrics.

5. Food fight? More like food flight

True to their name, the Texas Tailgaters took fan service to new heights by literally tossing free food into the crowd. Fans scrambled for flying snacks in what looked like the world’s most organized food fight, with everyone laughing as they tried to catch their dinner mid-air.

6. Flashlight serenade

Fans pulled out their phone flashlights for an impromptu singalong to “Don’t Stop Believin’” that turned Isotopes Park into an outdoor concert venue.

Audience members loved the energy that Banana Ball brought to Albuquerque this weekend. “It’s 10 times more packed than regular baseball,” said Tiffany Thorington. “It’s just a lot of fun being with other people.”

Another fan noted the format’s constant action: “It’s way more energetic,” said Lou Gottwald, “You can watch the game and not worry about missing parts because there’s always something else happening.”

The Texas Tailgaters defeated the Party Animals 6-5 in Sunday’s final showdown at Isotopes Park, splitting the two-game series in front of a sold-out crowd that witnessed the full Banana Ball experience.

The game remained competitive throughout nine innings, with both teams trading leads before ending the two-hour game in a tie. The Tailgaters prevailed in the final showdown format that replaces traditional extra innings. In this format, the hitter needs to score in each showdown, and if they miss, there’s a “final showdown shutdown.”

Players broke into choreographed dance routines between innings, with each team staying true to their musical identity. The Tailgaters favored country songs while the Party Animals stuck to pop and party anthems. The Tailgaters’ Indiana Stanley drew cheers when he lip-synced Tucker Wetmore’s “Brunette” during his walk to the plate, embracing his team’s country theme.

Banana Ball: Best moments from Saturday's Party Animals vs. Texas Tailgaters game

The umpires also spent the game doing backflips that earned as much applause as the game action. The water balloon derby provided one of the afternoon’s most popular segments, as players tossed balloons from the stands while a young fan at field level swung a bat as they came down.

When asked what their favorite parts of the game were, they talked about the overall comedy, the umpires, and the dancing. Most discovered the Banana Ball games through social media, drawn in by viral clips they had seen of the players dancing during games.

The Tailgaters’ victory after last night’s game that went to the Party Animals wrapped up the local stop before the Banana Ball World Tour continues to its next destination.